The story of Pastor Henry

10 years ago Pastor Henry* was leading a church with his wife Irene*. Life was hard. They put all their resources into the church but there wasn't enough money to sustain them and their family. Now, 10 years later, they are running a successful sugar cane business and travelling across the district to preach. What changed in the life of Pastor Henry? Let's ask him.

“I have been a church pastor now for 22 years. But before Church and Community Transformation (CCT) came to my church it was so difficult to sustain my family and church ministry. All I knew was to preach, pray and visit believers, but I never thought any further than that. When things got desperate my wife and I would go to her parents’ house, 100km away, to collect food.

In 2008 the PAG regional leaders invited us for leaders’ training on CCT. This was my turning point. I realised that a holistic transformation involved being well in my soul and in my body. I felt like I had been blind and now I could see.

A new business

There was a piece of land near the church that the owner thought was useless. He agreed to sell it to me, all the time laughing because he thought I was out of my mind. I hired five men for a week to clear the bush near the stream and I started planting sugarcanes.

I started with one acre of land and planted 200 cuttings. As they matured I expanded to another two and half acres of land where I added 450 pieces of sugar cane cuttings. Now I employ twenty men per day to work on my sugar cane. Weekly I harvest more than a thousand stems and am able to earn more than UGX 300,000 (almost £60).

(Left - An employee sorting the sugar cane. Right - Pastor Henry in his plantation.)

Poverty overcome

In the future I plan to motivate my neighbours to also grow sugar cane. I am hoping there will be enough for us to start a sugar processing factory. I can tell you that without this transformation we would not have overcome poverty. The success we have had has helped me to dedicate more time to God's work than before. The support we get from selling sugar cane means I can travel far to churches for preaching. My wife is also a graduate CCT disciple, she goes to facilitate CCT in other churches without being limited by resources.

As a church leader I see CCT as a good tool which must be ministered to young ones as they grow. With the support of Kayanga church members, we decided to start a nursery and primary school. Now we are able to teach children to love God and to appreciate the resources God has given them, using them to glorify Him.”

*Names have been changed

Children from Kayanga Nursery School

Have you enjoyed reading Pastor Henry’s story? Why not use the PowerPoint in your church service and hand out the prayer cards for people to take home!

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